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- Sep 7, 2007
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I made these diagrams a while ago using my own animals so here they are again for anyone who is confused when it comes to differentiating Hermann's tortoises.
TESTUDO HERMANNI BOETTGERI VS. TESTUDO HERMANNI HERMANNI
Many people find it quite difficult to differentiate the eastern and western subspecies of the Hermanns tortoise (Testudo hermanni). For years it was believed that the Western race (Testudo hermanni hermanni) was separated from the Eastern race (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) by characteristics like a divided suprecaudal shield or the jet black bands on the plastron. While these features can help, it is by no means limited to this as both subspecies can exhibit them. Today all over the world "breeders" and dealers offer hermanns tortoises for sale. Many are captive bred babies while others are imported wild caught animals which are loaded with parasites. Lately individuals offer "western hermanns tortoises" for sale and more than 9 times out 10 they are not the real thing. In the following diagrams I illustrate through photos of my own tortoises how to properly tell the difference between the 2 subspecies. Just because your tortoise has a lot of black on the plastron does not mean it's a western hermanns tortoise!!
Enjoy everyone!
Sincerely,
Chris Leone
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th5.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th2.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th3.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th4.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th10.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th7.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th8.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th12.jpg[/img]
TESTUDO HERMANNI BOETTGERI VS. TESTUDO HERMANNI HERMANNI
Many people find it quite difficult to differentiate the eastern and western subspecies of the Hermanns tortoise (Testudo hermanni). For years it was believed that the Western race (Testudo hermanni hermanni) was separated from the Eastern race (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) by characteristics like a divided suprecaudal shield or the jet black bands on the plastron. While these features can help, it is by no means limited to this as both subspecies can exhibit them. Today all over the world "breeders" and dealers offer hermanns tortoises for sale. Many are captive bred babies while others are imported wild caught animals which are loaded with parasites. Lately individuals offer "western hermanns tortoises" for sale and more than 9 times out 10 they are not the real thing. In the following diagrams I illustrate through photos of my own tortoises how to properly tell the difference between the 2 subspecies. Just because your tortoise has a lot of black on the plastron does not mean it's a western hermanns tortoise!!
Enjoy everyone!
Sincerely,
Chris Leone
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th5.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th2.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th3.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th4.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th10.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th7.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th8.jpg[/img]
[img=640x480]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Loonacris/th12.jpg[/img]